Support box for supporting a laptop computer

ABSTRACT

In a support box for supporting a laptop computer, comprising a bottom wall and side walls, the side walls extend from the bottom wall to different heights so as to provide a top support area which is level when the support box is placed onto the inclined seat surface of a car seat for supporting the laptop computer horizontally in a position convenient for a person sitting on a seat next to the laptop computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in a support box for supporting a laptop computer particularly to facilitate the use of a laptop in a motor vehicle.

Business people who are frequently traveling often need to use their laptop computer in the car. Since there is no table available in a passenger car often the laptop is placed onto the passenger seat or, if the user is sitting in the back, the computer is placed on the unoccupied part of the rear seat. However, since the seating surfaces of car seats are always inclined downwardly to the rear, the use of the laptop in this way becomes inconvenient and tiring.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement which eliminates this problem that is, which facilitates the use of a laptop in a motor vehicle and makes it more convenient and less tiring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a support box for supporting a laptop computer, comprising a bottom wall and side walls, the side walls extend from the bottom wall to different heights so as to provide a top support area which is level when the support box is placed onto the inclined seat surface of a car seat for supporting the laptop computer horizontally in a position convenient for a person sitting on a seat next to the laptop computer.

The support box according to the invention is wedge-shaped and provided with a bottom wall having a non-slip bottom surface with which it is placed onto the inclined seat surface so that the box is firmly held in position.

The top edges of the side walls of the upwardly open wedge box or of the lid, if the box is closed fully or partially by such a lid, extend in a horizontal plane so that also the laptop or a laptop holder is supported horizontally.

Preferably, the wedge box has an upper circumferential edge area which is so shaped that it accommodates a commercially available laptop stand in such a way that it is engaged with the circumferential edge area of the wedge box and is not slidable thereon. Such laptop stands are generally used for supporting laptops on tables often at adjustable angles to provide for a properly inclined laptop support surface.

Alternatively, the wedge box may be provided at its top with corresponding support surface areas which may be limited for example to the corner areas so that a laptop may be supported on those support surface areas. The arrangement may be such that both possibilities are available.

The wedge box may also be provided with a top wall in the form of a lid which may be a slide-in lid which can be locked in position on the box but which is removable therefrom or in the form of a pivot lid which is connected to the box by hinges. A box provided with such a lid has the advantage that it can be used as a container for utensils or accessories for example computer accessories such as cables, electric power connectors or similar accessories. The lid may be used as support surface for directly supporting a laptop support device which can then be placed—with the box lid removed—onto the frame formed by the side walls of the box where it can be engaged to be held in position by the frame or, with the lid closed, it can be placed onto the lid and held there in place by cooperating guide elements.

The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of advantageous embodiments thereof on the basis of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the support box according to the invention for supporting a laptop,

FIG. 2 is a top view of the support box,

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a support box in a cross-sectional view,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the support box shower in FIG. 3 and,

FIG. 5 shows schematically a support box with additional height adjustment feet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a wedge-shaped support box without a lid. It comprises a bottom wall 1 with vertical side walls 2 connected thereto, each having an upper edge surface 3 wherein the upper edges surfaces 3 jointly define a common plane which, in the operating position of the wedge box, extends horizontally. The bottom wall 1 is inclined with respect to the common plane.

The bottom side of the bottom wall 1 is provided with a slide-resistant covering, which, in the embodiment shown is in the form of a soft rubber burled sheet 4 and which provides for a slide resistant support surface on a car seat or another inclined support surface.

The wedge box as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is open at the top and may serve as containment for utensils such as computer cables and other accessories. As apparent from the top view of FIG. 2 and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, in the four corner areas transverse reinforcement webs 5 are arranged whose upper edge areas b are spaced somewhat from the top edge surfaces 3 of the side walls 2, that is, they are at a slightly lower level than the top edges 3 of the side walls 2 and may serve as support structures.

FIG. 1 shows in dash-dotted lines schematically a laptop holder LS. Its bottom part extends somewhat into the box and is therefore sidewardly engaged by the sidewalls 2 of the box while it is supported on the top surfaces 3 of the sidewalls 2 by its outwardly projecting circumferential area if such an outwardly projecting area is present. If such an outwardly projecting area is not present, the holder is supported on the upper edges 6 of the reinforcement webs 5.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the wedge-type support box which in its design corresponds essentially to the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, but which is provided at its top with a lid 7.

The lid 7 which is shown only schematically—as is the whole box—can be in the form of a removable cover which is engaged with the box by a snap on retaining structure or it may be connected to the box by a hinge. In this case, the hinge joint may be releasable by a disengageable joint structure so that, again, the lid can be removed. Also, the lid may be in the form of a slide lid received in grooves formed in the side walls of the box. The lid 7 makes it possible to use the box as a storage device as noted earlier.

The top of the lid may be flat as shown in FIG. 3 and may also be provided (not shown)—like the bottom surface of the box—with a slide resistant cover, so that a laptop can be safely placed onto the lid without sliding off. However, simply a coarse surface of the lid may be sufficient to retain the laptop since a laptop usually has slide resistant support feet.

The wedge box may be formed—in adaptation to a laptop holder as mentioned above and shown in FIG. 1—in such a way that, after removal of the lid, the laptop holder can be placed on top of the wedge box so that it is received in, and engaged by, the top edges of the side walls of the box and the support plate of the holder which can be inclined can be arranged at an angle which is convenient for the user. However, with the lid closed, the laptop can be placed directly onto the lid. Consequently, a user has a choice to use the laptop in a position and orientation which is most convenient to him or her.

Obviously, although not shown, the lid may be provided at its top side with form-locking elements, guide elements, or other structures which retain a laptop on the cover in a form-locking manner in order to prevent sliding of the laptop on the lid for example when it is set up and the vehicle is moving. However, a slide resistant layer applied to the lid as mentioned earlier may be sufficient to hold the laptop in its place.

FIG. 5 shows a modified embodiment for use in connection with relatively steeply inclined seats. FIG. 5 shows the wedge schematically in a front view (as seen by a user in a car) wherein the slide resistant layer applied to the bottom wall in the form of a soft rubber burled mat 4 is visible.

In order to obtain a level top surface of the wedge box in spite of a seat area which is inclined to a greater extent than the bottom wall of the wedge box, height increasing feet 8 are provided which may selectively be attached to the wedge box bottom wall in the area of the two lower corners. Expediently, such feet are loosely carried along in the box so that the user can attach them whenever necessary. To this end, the top side of the feet 8 may be provided with a self-adhesive layer 9 and the slide resistant layer 4 may be recessed in the corner areas of the wedge box to facilitate the attachment of the height increasing feet 8. The height increasing feet themselves may be provided at their bottom surfaces with a slide resistant layer 10 with a profile structure.

It is apparent that the feet may be otherwise attached for example by a snap-in structure projecting in an opening in the bottom wall and the snap-in structure may be such the feet can again easily be removed in order to facilitate the selective installation and removal of the feet depending on the use of the wedge box. Of course, also other height adjustment means may be used such as a hinged web or an extendable side wall section or similar elements. 

1. A support box for supporting a laptop computer, comprising a bottom wall (1) with side walls (2) extending therefrom and having upper side wall edge surfaces (3) defining in the use position of the box on essentially horizontal plane, and means for supporting and retaining a laptop holder (LS) or a laptop (2) on the top side of the support box, the side walls having changing heights so as to form the wedge shape of the box corresponding essentially to the inclination of a vehicle seat so as to provide on top of the box a level support surface for the laptop computer when the support box is placed on an inclined vehicle seat surface.
 2. The support box according to claim 1, wherein the upper side wall edges (3) are support surfaces, and the upper side wall inside surfaces are side guide structures for laptop holders supported on the support box.
 3. The support box according to claim 1, wherein vertically extending reinforcement webs (5) extend across all corner areas of the box and have top surfaces (6) for supporting laptop holders (LS).
 4. The support box according to claim 1, wherein the support box includes an upper lid (7).
 5. The support box according to claim 4, wherein the lid (7) is removably supported on the side walls (2).
 6. The support box according to claim 5, wherein the lid is pivotally supported by pivot hinges.
 7. The support box according to claim 5, wherein the lid is slidably supported.
 8. The support box according to claim 5, wherein the lid is engaged with the sidewalls of the box by clip-on means.
 9. The support box according to claim 4, wherein the lid is provided with a slide resistant top surface.
 10. The support box according to claim 1, wherein a slide resistant layer of soft rubber is disposed at least on the underside of the support box.
 11. The support box according to claim 1, wherein means are provided on the bottom wall in the area of the highest side wall for adjusting the support height to accommodate car seats with greater than normal seat inclinations.
 12. The support box according to claim 11, wherein the height adjustment means are feet with means for their attachment to the bottom wall of the box.
 13. The support box according to claim 11, wherein the height adjustment means is one of a clip-on foot, a fold out foot and an extendable sidewall element. 